General Douglas MacArthur

General Douglas MacArthur was the commanding general of US forces in the
Far East when Japanese forces swept across Asia. He commanded the US and Filipino
garrison in the Philippines when the Japanese invaded in December 1941.

MacArthur was ordered to escape to Australia four weeks before the Philippines
fell, but he famously vowed to return, on the railway station at Terowie,
South Australia, on his journey south. He was appointed Supreme Commander
of Allied Forces in the South-West Pacific Area and was soon to establish
his headquarters in Brisbane.

MacArthur’s arrival in Australia was greeted with enthusiasm. He established
a close relationship with the Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, and virtually
directed the Australian war effort. Australians treated him like a movie star.
In retrospect, it might be said we surrendered some of our sovereign powers
in allowing this, and while the Australian Commander in Chief, General Thomas
Blamey, had great Australian responsibilities he had less influence.